Stump splitter



May 9, 1939.

- R. R. DUNAGIN 2,157,483

sTUMP SPLITT'ER File-d oct. e, 19:57 2 sheets-sheet 1 R. R. DUNAGIN STUMP SPLITTER May 9, 1939.

Filed oct. e, 1957l 2 sheets-sheet 2 .Raymond l?. [Jaimy/h,

I N V EN TOR.

.A TT ORNEYS.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED` STATES PATENT (IFF'ICEI 1 Claim.

This invention relates to `a device designed for splitting stumps, the primary object of the invention being to provide a stump splitter constructed in such a way that the arms carrying the blades will move simultaneously in opposite directions, thereby insuring against the machine or support for the arms moving laterally, in the event that the machine or support is not in direct alignment with the work.

An important object of the invention is tol provide a stump splitter of this character which may be adjusted vertically for use in splitting stumps of various sizes, and one wherein the blade carrying arms of the device may be elevated to facilitate transportation of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a frame on which the blade carrying arms of the stump splitter are mounted.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrating the operation of the blades in splitting a stump.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the blade carrying arms of the device, illustrating the threaded shaft for operating the arms.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the threaded shaft, illustrating the threaded members through which the shaft operates.

Figure 5 is an end elevational View illustrating the means for connecting the forward ends of the blade carrying arms.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the supporting frame embodies parallel bars 5 which are held in spaced relation by means of the cross bars 6 and l. Mounted at the forward ends of the bars 5, are bearings 8 through which the ends of the curved rod 9 extend, the curved rod 9 providing a support for the blade carrying arms I0, that have their inner ends twisted at right angles and provided with elongated openings Il. These elongated openings II permit a slight lat- (Cl. 14A-193) eral movement of the arms I0, so that the arms will properly align themselves with the stump being split.

Secured to the arms I0, .are brackets I2 which are formed with openings that are disposed di- 5 rectly above the opening I3 in the arm I 0, the openings providing bearings for the reduced ends I4 of the members I5 which are formed with threaded openings. The threaded openings of the members I5, accommodate the threaded shaft I6, the threads of the shaft I6 extending in opposite directions towards the center of the shaft, from the ends thereof. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the arms I0 will be moved towards or away from each other, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft IB.

The outer ends of the arms are mounted between the plates I1, and are pivotally held between the plates, by means of the bolts I8 that 20 extend through aligning openings in the plates Il, and arms I0. Secured to the arms I0, at points near the outer or free ends thereof, are the splitting blades I9, which are disposed directly opposite to each other, and have their cutting edges disposed vertically so that when the blades are forced into a stump, the stump will be split with the grain.

An eye bolt indicated by the reference character 20 extends through the plates I1, and affords 30 means for connecting the cable 2l to the plates I1 and arms I0. This cable 2| operates over the guide pulley 22 mounted on the shaft 23 that in turn operates in the bearings 24 disposed at the upper ends of the brackets 25. The opposite end of the cable 2I is wound on the drum 26 that is mounted on the shaft 2l, the shaft 2l being operated by means of the power chain 28 that moves over the sprocket 29 and sprocket 30 of the power mechanism indicated at 3I. o

Secured to the threaded shaft I6, at .a point intermediate its ends, is a sprocket 32 over which the chain 33 operates, the chain 33 also operating over the power sprocket 34 secured to the power shaft 35.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the shaft I6 may be rotated, and since the shaft I6 is formed with threads disposed in opposite directions from the ends of the shaft to the center thereof, the arms I0 will be moved either towards or away from each other, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft I6.

In the operation of the device, the stump splitter is moved to a position adjacent to the stump to be split, and the arms are lowered until the blades I9 carried thereby, are disposed at opposite sides of the stump.

Power is now applied and the shaft I6 is rotated, in a direction to move the arms towards each other with the result that the splitting blades i9 are forced into the stump, to accomplish the purpose of the invention. The shaft l is now rotated in the opposite direction, whereupon the blades I9 are moved away from the stump, and the arms may be elevated to clear the stump, whereby the device may be moved to another place of operation.

I claim:

In a device for splitting stumps, a support, a

curved rod mounted on the support, spaced arms, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of said arms, said arms having elongated openings formed at the inner ends thereof adapted to receive the curved rod, slidably supporting the arms, said arms having threaded members, a threaded shaft extending into the threaded members, means for rotating the threaded shaft moving the arms towards and away from each other, and splitting blades on said arms for 1G splitting the stump under treatment.

RAYMOND R. DUNAGIN. 

